An imaging apparatus with a timing generator supplying an imaging device with drive pulses. The timing generator has registers for independently storing information required for generating a pulse pattern for the imaging device. A selector selects one of the registers to connect it to a pulse generator. Based on the information stored in the selected register, the pulse generator generates pulses of a pulse pattern for the imaging device. External control circuitry rewrites the information stored in an unselected register from the outside of the timing generator. By repeating the steps of selecting one of the registers and rewriting the information stored in the unselected register, drive pulses with various pulse patterns can be supplied to the imaging device.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. An imaging apparatus comprising a timing generator supplying an imaging device with drive pulses, said timing generator comprising: at least one register for independently storing information required for generating a pulse pattern for said imaging device; and first circuitry for generating pulses of the pulse pattern for said imaging device based on the information stored in any one of said at least one register; said imaging apparatus further comprising second circuitry for rewriting the information stored in said at least one register from the outside of said timing generator during a period said register is not accessed by said first circuitry; wherein said at least one register is provided in plural, said imaging apparatus further comprising a first selector for selecting any one of said registers to connect said one register selected to said first circuitry, said first circuitry generating the pulses of the pulse pattern for said imaging device based on the information stored in said one register selected by said first selector.
2. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising a second selector for selecting any one of said registers, said second circuitry rewriting the information stored in said one register selected by said second selector.
3. The apparatus in accordance with claim 2 , further comprising a control circuit controlling said first and second selectors to select different ones of said registers.
4. The apparatus in accordance with claim 3 , wherein said registers are provided in pair.
5. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said second circuitry comprises a micro-processor.
6. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the information required for generating a pulse pattern includes a record of a length of a vertical scanning period and a record of a length of a horizontal scanning period of an image formed by said imaging device.
7. The apparatus in accordance with claim 6 , wherein the information required for generating a pulse pattern further includes a record of a duration during which an electronic shuttering of said imaging device is kept operated.
8. A method of supplying an imaging device with drive pulses comprising the steps of: preparing a plurality of registers storing information required for generating pulse patterns for the imaging device inside a timing generator supplying the imaging device with drive pulses; selecting any one of the plurality of registers; generating pulses of a pulse pattern for the imaging device based on the information stored in the selected register; rewriting the information stored in one of the registers which is not selected from outside of the timing generator; and repeating sequence of said steps to supply the imaging device with the drive pulses of various pulse patterns.
9. The method in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the information required for generating the pulse pattern includes a record of a length of a vertical scanning period and a record of a length of a horizontal scanning period of an image formed by the imaging device.
10. The method in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the information required for generating the pulse pattern further includes a record of a duration during which an electronic shuttering of the imaging device is kept operated.
11. The method in accordance with claim 8 , wherein in said step of rewriting a part of the information stored in the register which is not selected is rewritten.
12. A method of supplying an imaging device with drive pulses comprising the steps of: storing information required for generating a pulse pattern for the imaging device in at least one register included in a timing generator supplying the imaging device with drive pulses; obtaining the information stored in the register; generating pulses of a pulse pattern for the imaging device based on the obtained information; rewriting the information stored in the register from outside of the timing generator during a period the register is not accessed; repeating a sequence of said steps to supply the imaging device with drive pulses with various pulse wave patterns; wherein said at least one register is provided in plural, and selecting any one of said registers to connect said one register selected to a first circuitry, wherein said first circuitry generating the pulses of the pulse pattern for said imaging device based on the information stored in said selected one register.
13. The method in accordance with claim 12 , wherein the information required for generating the pulse pattern includes a record of a length of a vertical scanning period and a record of a length of a horizontal scanning period of an image formed by the imaging device.
14. The method in accordance with claim 13 , wherein the information required for generating the pulse pattern further includes a record of a duration during which an electronic shuttering of the imaging device is kept operated.
15. The method in accordance with claim 12 , wherein in said step of rewriting a part of the information stored in the register is rewritten.
16. An imaging apparatus comprising a timing generator supplying an imaging device with drive pulses, said timing generator comprising: a plurality of registers for storing information required for generating pulse patterns for said imaging device; a first selector for selecting one of said plurality of registers; a pulse generator for generating pulses of a pulse pattern for said imaging device based on the information stored in the register selected by said first selector; and an external control circuitry for rewriting the information stored in one of said plurality of registers which is not selected by said first selector.
17. The apparatus in accordance with claim 16 , further comprising a second selector for selecting any one of said plurality of registers, said external control circuitry rewriting the information stored in said one register selected by said second selector.
18. The apparatus in accordance with claim 17 , further comprising a control circuit controlling said first and second selectors to select different ones of said plurality of registers.
19. The apparatus in accordance with claim 18 , wherein said plurality of registers are provided in pair.
20. The apparatus in accordance with claim 16 , further comprising an external storage device for storing a plurality of units of information required for generating a pulse pattern for said imaging device.
21. The apparatus in accordance with claim 16 , wherein said external control circuitry comprises a micro-processor.
22. The apparatus in accordance with claim 16 , wherein the information required for generating a pulse pattern includes a record of a length of a vertical scanning period and a record of a length of a horizontal scanning period of an image formed by said imaging device.
23. The apparatus in accordance with claim 22 , wherein the information required for generating a pulse pattern further includes a record of a duration during which an electronic shuttering of said imaging device is kept operated.
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January 2, 2003
August 14, 2007
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